NHS trusts told to end postcode lottery of IVF treatment

The NHS should end the 'postcode lottery' in fertility treatment and provide
three full cycles of IVF treatment to most couples having difficulty
conceiving for free, new strengthened guidance will say

The draft standard said women under the age of 40 who have not conceived after two year of trying or 12 cycles of artificial insemination should be offered three full cycles of IVF on the NHSPhoto: ALAMY

Now Nice is to issue new strengthened guidance directing the NHS to provide three full cycles universally.

It will also direct trusts to provide, for free, a treatment for patients about to undergo cancer treatment that would probably leave them infertile. Egg, sperm and embryo freezing can be carried out prior to cancer treatment so the patient can have children later once given the all clear.

This comes after a judge criticised Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group for refusing to fund this procedure for Elizabeth Rose who was about to undergo chemotherapy for a severe form of Crohn’s disease.

Thanet's reason was that they simply disagreed with the Nice guidance.

There will be an expectation that all NHS trusts comply with the new Nice 'quality standard'.

The draft standard said women under the age of 40 who have not conceived after two year of trying or 12 cycles of artificial insemination should be offered three full cycles of IVF on the NHS.

Women aged between 40 and 42 should be offered one cycle providing they have not previously had IVF.

Sarah Norcross, co-chairman of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC) said: “This is an excellent move. We are delighted that Nice has accepted our recommendations and that the number of cycles has been included in the quality standard.

"We are also pleased that an explicit statement has been included regarding living children as this is too often used as a reason to refuse treatment.

“This should send a strong and clear message to all commissioners and could not be a better – or clearer – indication of exactly what is needed to bring the unfair and unequitable postcode lottery approach to funding to an end.

“This quality standard must not be allowed to slip in the way that the Nice fertility guidelines have slipped and it’s high time patients were allowed to access the level of infertility treatment they are entitled to.”

Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Health and Social Care at Nice, said: “Infertility is a recognised medical condition that can affect people of any age and has a potentially devastating effect on people’s lives. It can cause significant distress, depression and can possibly lead to the breakdown of relationships.

“Our updated guidance which was published last year provides clear recommendations on the most clinically and cost effective way to treat people with fertility problems. Unfortunately, we know that not all areas are following our guidance to the letter. This creates variations in treatment within the NHS, which is disappointing and goes against the fundamental aims of the NHS.

”The quality standard that we are currently developing should help health care services to focus on the key areas of care that need to be addressed most urgently and ensure that the right support and treatment is available to those who need it.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: "Infertility affects thousands of couples so we welcome Nice's proposals to reinforce its existing guidelines so that IVF treatment can be more readily available and on a more consistent basis.

"It is for local NHS organisations to consider Nice guidance when making decisions about offering IVF to their communities. We know that around a quarter of NHS organisations currently offer three full cycles of IVF to eligible couples, so it is certainly possible to follow Nice guidelines in full and offer IVF to those who are eligible and we would encourage them to do so."